Fergie could miss start of United's title defence as boss requires hip surgery in summer

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to miss the beginning of the club's Barclays Premier League title defence as he is due to undergo hip surgery in the summer.

The 71-year-old Scot has been troubled by the problem for some time and is set for the operation when the club return from a pre-season tour.

But the club return to England just 18 days before the start of the season which with leave Fergie little time for recuperation.

Going under the knife: Sir Alex will have surgery on his hip this summer and will miss the start of the season

The club have confirmed the manager will go under the knife in the summer, but have stressed it has no impact on his position at Old Trafford.

United's pre-season plans this summer include a three-week tour of Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong this summer and return on July 30.

They then face either Manchester City or Wigan in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 11.

A senior United sources told the Mirror they would be 'amazed' if Ferguson is in the dug-out for the start of next term in August.

Ferguson has always said his health would dictate how long he would carry on as United manager.

He was taken ill at a function in his native Scotland almost 12 months ago, although his nosebleeds were put down to the amount of short flights he had undertaken.

Ferguson subsequently missed pre-season matches in Norway and Germany and also sat out a mid-winter break in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has insisted he has no plans to offload any of his star men this summer.

Ferguson has already confirmed he has a few ideas in mind for the summer, even though executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward claimed on Thursday there was no need for 'major retooling' of the Red Devils squad.

There are some players who appear surplus to requirements though, including midfielder Anderson and wide-man Nani, both of whom have failed to match expectations since their arrivals in 2007.

Nani has made more of an impact but his contract is due to expire next year and so far, the respective parties are poles apart in their valuations. However, Ferguson insists no one is going anywhere.

'We have no plans to sell anyone,' said Ferguson. 'That's a fact. There is no need for us to sell anyone. Nani played last week at Arsenal and he did well.

'When he is in form there are very few better than him. So I think we will bring him back in pre-season training and he will be all right.'

Hips don't lie: Sir Alex has no plans to retire, even after landing the club's 20th title this year